Overexpression of PDGFR-beta is an important factor in pancreatic cancer as well as other inflammatory diseases, including arteriosclerosis and therefore is a highly significant molecular target. The long-range goal of this proposal is to develop small molecule therapeutics that will specifically suppress PDGFR-beta gene expression. Our strategy takes advantage of the recent insight into the importance of G-quadruplexes in transcriptional silencing of a number of genes, including c-Myc. Preliminary data reported in this proposal demonstrate that a cluster of four overlapping G-quadruplexes are key elements in the control of PDGFR-beta transcription. We have also demonstrated that known G-quadruplex-interactive compounds have differential effects on PDGFR-beta gene expression dependent on the selectivity for the constituent G-quadruplexes. Transcriptionally induced superhelicity has been demonstrated to be important in the conversion of duplex DNA to G-quadruplex in promoter region. Thus our hypothesis to be tested is that the negative superhelicity induced by transcription provides a real-time feedback mechanism into the NHE in the PDGFR-beta promoter to modulate both the firing rate (cruise control) and activation or silencing (on/off switch) of PDGFR-beta transcription.
The specific aims are: (1) To determine the biological function of the 54-end, mid-54, mid-34, and 34-end G-quadruplex-forming sequences by deletion and mutational analysis of the PDGFR-beta promoter element and then determine the effect of supercoiling on the pattern of G-quadruplex formation in the PDGFR-beta promoter. (2) To determine by NMR the folding patterns and structures of the G-quadruplexes in the PDGFR-beta promoter. (3) To identify specific proteins and small molecules that bind differentially to the constituent G-quadruplexes found in the PDGFR-beta promoter.
For specific aim 1, we will construct supercoiled plasmids containing PDGFR-beta promoter inserts and a luciferase reporter system.
For specific aim 2, high-field NMR will be used to determine the structures of the constituent G-quadruplexes located in the PDGFR-beta promoter element.
For specific aim 3, we will use affinity chromatography and small molecule screening methods to identify proteins and drug-like molecules that bind to the individual G-quadruplexes. The biological effects of these entities will be determined in specific aim 1.

Public Health Relevance

An effective means to turn on and off genes associated with diseases, such as cancer and arteriosclerosis, with small drug-like molecules is still not available. In this project, we take advantage of a new mechanism to achieve this objective. The target is a gene that is commonly involved in pancreatic cancer and arteriosclerosis.